It’s interesting to read a scripture passage and see something I’ve never seen, though I’ve read it a dozen times before. Often admonitions to “fear not” are followed with “for I am with you.” In other places, “fear not” is accompanied by a statement about something God has done or is about to do.

These verses illustrate my point:

Joshua 1:9 “Do not be afraid . . . for the Lord your God will be with you.”

Isaiah 41:10 “Fear not, for I am with you”

Psalm 23:4 “I will fear no evil, for you are with me . . .”

Realizing this connection between God’s presence and not being fearful is meaningful, especially when so many are racked with anxiety and fear. When Drew Carey signs off The Price is Right these days, I hear him paying attention to people’s emotional states. After he reminds us to have our pets spayed or neutered, he encourages us to be kind to others and to ourselves, to take care of each other and to remember our mental health is important. He seems to know some in his audience suffer with the effects of unkindness. It can lead to isolation, self-loathing, fear and even worse.

Then he tells us he loves us. (Thanks, Drew. Right back at ya.)

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I was afraid of another person once riding home in a school bus from middle school. I decided the bully and I were going to punch it out once and for all. I was scared when I stepped off the bus, but the fight turned out to be nothing more than two or three punches and us wrestling on the ground until our anger was spent.

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When I am fearful today, it’s usually because I’m afraid of some really bad news or consequence, like a medical test result. But, here’s the thing . . .

Why am I fearful when God is with me?

He is there if the test result is bad. He is there if it’s good. The great comforting truth is this: whatever my news, whatever the threat to me, whatever my sadness, God is there. So, how is it possible to be afraid in His presence? It’s possible because I forget He is always with me.

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When the airplanes flew into the World Trade Center on 9/11/2001, I joined a group of worried believers who met to pray for the president and the families impacted by the attack. As we shared our thoughts, I understood how fearful we all were. Until . . .

A wise, older believer called out from the back of the room, “God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” He’d quoted 2 Timothy 1:7.

When I am afraid today, this truth re-centers me. My situation might be heartbreaking, but God is always here with me. I will trust Him and not be afraid.